Vacation homes are a chance to unwind, disconnect and breathe, all with the luxuries and comforts of your own property. With the cost of living on the rise, the Coronavirus pandemic and many economic uncertainties, the idea of family vacations have become more than a little stressful. Forbes encourages, “the simplest solution seems to be that we should be focusing on contained, intimate travel experiences rather than typical, crowded ones.”
Limited acreage, skyrocketing prices and environmental concerns have many turning to tiny homes as a solution. Here are four reasons you will want your next vacation home to be a tiny one.
TINY HOMES COME AT TINY PRICES
The cost of building, buying and renovating a second home is no longer an option for most people. While it used to be practical to look for an older home in need of remodelling, this has become a substantial drain on not only bank accounts but also time and energy. If living in a post-Coronavirus world has taught us anything, our time and energy are as valuable, if not more, than money.
Buying a Basic Tiny Home | The cost of a tiny home, or micro-home, dramatically varies depending on size and layout. Whether you plan on building or buying your tiny house will also have a bearing on the price. In March of 2020, a basic, year-round tiny home cost approximately $60 000. If you are into bare-bones, you can buy a decent tiny home for around $25 000. – The Spruce.
Building Your Tiny Home | If you choose to build your tiny vacation home, you can save a lot of money. A simple, handmade tiny home could cost between $10 000 and $20 000 if you don’t make any costly mistakes. “What’s cool about tiny houses is that they can be built to match anyone’s lifestyle and budget,” says Dorsey…but the average falls somewhere in the range of $30,000 to $40,000.” – Reader’s Digest.
Buying a Luxury Tiny Home | A luxury version costs upwards of $150 000. Look at it this way, “…a $10,000 house will likely be lacking basic necessities like a bathroom, which is often required by local building codes. Tiny homes that are priced higher – usually over $50,000 – typically include more luxuries, like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and other high-end finishes.” – Rocket Homes.
TINY HOMES CAN BE TAILORED TO YOUR LIFESTYLE
It is no surprise that one of the top draws of living tiny is the integration of details to suit your unique style and daily habits. We live in a time obsessed with organization, purging and dialling things back to the necessities. So, for most of us, the idea of a tiny home is the dream of getting in touch with who we are and what we love while ditching the noisy business of life as we’ve known it.
While we may feel drawn to the shiny surfaces and gadgets we’ve seen on shows like Tiny Nation, it is crucial to plan the essential components first. Leave the fancy touches to the end, or plan to improve on your design one year at a time, so you can enjoy your home without the financial hassle of doing too much too soon. Lisa Tranter advises on hometolove.com, “The best advice I can give, figure out what’s important to you in your house and prioritize them in design.”
Considering your main hobbies and habits while in vacation mode is vital. For example, is your favourite type of vacay:
Netflix & Chill | Think about comfortable seating for bingeing your favourite series and enough room for the whole family to lounge. You may want a sofa that easily pulls out into a large bed and stores extra blankets and pillows.
Artistic | If you love to draw or paint, you will want to include a designated area that gives you access to plenty of natural light and stores your tools and materials efficiently.
Musical | Is playing your guitar or keyboard how you like to unwind? Create a safe storage place, easy to access, and room to play naturally and comfortably. You may also consider soundproofing an area of your tiny home so that the rest of your family has simultaneous access to quiet.
Sports | For those who love to ski and snowboard in the winter months or hike and bike in the warmer months, it is wise to create an outdoor or undercarriage storage area for your gear.
Go big with your initial design, cutting back as you go. Even if you need to start off with a bare-bones tiny house, you will always have your initial list of must-haves to refer back on.
THEY ALLOW YOU TO SPEND MORE ON OUTDOOR SPACE
One of the reasons so many adore the idea of a tiny home is the quaint and well-developed outdoor space. Saving significantly on the cost of building a full-sized home, much of your budget can go to your outdoor living. The possibilities are endless, but let’s name a few!
Build a Mini Deck | Not only can you build a large porch at the front of your tiny home, but many also choose to add a more private space in the back, and some even build an extra deck on the roof. Go big, in idea, and if you have the acreage, in space! Like Tim, the Remodelling Guy says, “if you know what’s good for you, you’ll pay special attention to those outdoor spaces. They might even be bigger than the house itself. Like a pavilion!”
Create Space for Gathering & Eating | Indoor gatherings will be somewhat limited within a tiny home. Therefore, utilizing your outdoor space in a way that accommodates your entire circle of close friends and family is essential. Building a bench into your porch is ideal, like this one. If the cost of lumbar is an issue, consider creating a sitting area off the main deck. Use stackable Adirondack chairs around a fire pit. Create a picnic table/tented area for meals in any weather. Invest in a heat lamp or two and some sun parasols, and you will be golden!
Create a Play Area for the Kids | With ample outdoor space, creating a kid’s play area would seem pretty straightforward. As your indoor space is limited, you need to remember that you will need a divided adult space outdoors, even if you are using it to survey the kiddos. Create a boundary area using rocks, which the kids can paint, or wood. Kids can keep their toys within the boundaries when they aren’t using them, keeping your main yard space uncluttered. Consider incorporating your natural landscape into your play space; climbing trees, wood obstacle courses, etc. Pinterest is full of visuals to help you create the perfect play place for your kids!
Outdoor Storage | As is with the inside of your home, a crucial outdoor component is storage. You want to incorporate as much practical storage as possible, without compromising your minimalist goals. Creating an aesthetically pleasing shed is as simple as a bit of paint or recycled barn wood. Use pallets to create a garden wall with lighting as a barrier between your car park and the central area. If you are a gardener, an under-eaves storage shed is ideal. “Attached to the outside of the house, this 15 ½-inch deep structure opens to reveal a spacious storage area to keep your garden tools dry and out of sight.” – Sunset.
There is only one true rule when building your tiny vacation home, make every square inch yours!
If you need a little extra financial support, consider reaching out to us for a small loan. 24Cash is a local business based in Canada that provides various lending options to hardworking Canadians, determining the best loan that works for you. Get the most out of your tiny home with 24Cash!